I've been working in Washington DC for about two years now. I've been robbed at gun point, had a murder happen in the next building over from a home visit, heard shots being fired, had colleagues robbed... It's not safe. No matter what you are there for or when you go. Staying out of the neighborhood at night isn't good enough anymore.

Gwendolyn:I've been working in Washington DC for about two years now. I've been robbed at gun point, had a murder happen in the next building over from a home visit, heard shots being fired, had colleagues robbed... It's not safe. No matter what you are there for or when you go. Staying out of the neighborhood at night isn't good enough anymore.

Working in NE? I've been in DC for over a year now and never been mugged.

If full descriptions haven't been made available, then partial descriptions are pointless. I know that disappoints anyone (like ThatDarkFellow) who loves bad news in which those damn darkies are responsible for crime, but what's the point in saying "3 black men" if skin color is all you have? Descriptions will become available later if making them public will help the investigation. But any followup story with those details likely won't be greenlit here, so ThatDarkFellow and his ilk will just continue to assume, which is what they do best.

The more interesting thing here is that someone seems to be targeting news crews and taking specialized equipment that wouldn't have much value on the black market. What's their angle, I wonder?

Also, it seems like it would be pretty easy to set up a sting. Will be interested in seeing how this all plays out.

One of the assailants punched Welk in the mouth before the group fled in a Mercedes-Benz, which apparently was accompanied by a Lexus, police said. Welk declined treatment by paramedics but saw his doctor.

Mrtraveler01:You know how I can tell that these kids weren't from Oakland?

One of the assailants punched Welk in the mouth before the group fled in a Mercedes-Benz, which apparently was accompanied by a Lexus, police said. Welk declined treatment by paramedics but saw his doctor.

I had a pair of girls pull up next to my car in Oakland once and offer me a handjob. They were in a Corvette.

100 Watt Walrus:If full descriptions haven't been made available, then partial descriptions are pointless. I know that disappoints anyone (like ThatDarkFellow) who loves bad news in which those damn darkies are responsible for crime, but what's the point in saying "3 black men" if skin color is all you have? Descriptions will become available later if making them public will help the investigation. But any followup story with those details likely won't be greenlit here, so ThatDarkFellow and his ilk will just continue to assume, which is what they do best.

The more interesting thing here is that someone seems to be targeting news crews and taking specialized equipment that wouldn't have much value on the black market. What's their angle, I wonder?

Also, it seems like it would be pretty easy to set up a sting. Will be interested in seeing how this all plays out.

A few weeks ago in the same state HS students band equipment was being pinched left and right. Kinda doubt that showed up on Craigslist or eBay. How low can you go, stealing a musicians instrument? No soul, no heart.

Mrtraveler01:You know how I can tell that these kids weren't from Oakland?

One of the assailants punched Welk in the mouth before the group fled in a Mercedes-Benz, which apparently was accompanied by a Lexus, police said. Welk declined treatment by paramedics but saw his doctor.

Are you implying that just because it's a Benz or a Lexus it must have been expensive?Check your under-$3,000 craigslist listings.

One of the assailants punched Welk in the mouth before the group fled in a Mercedes-Benz, which apparently was accompanied by a Lexus, police said. Welk declined treatment by paramedics but saw his doctor.

Are you implying that just because it's a Benz or a Lexus it must have been expensive?Check your under-$3,000 craigslist listings.

100 Watt Walrus:If full descriptions haven't been made available, then partial descriptions are pointless. I know that disappoints anyone (like ThatDarkFellow) who loves bad news in which those damn darkies are responsible for crime, but what's the point in saying "3 black men" if skin color is all you have?

In fact, why even bother giving the sex of the (purported) criminals, if that's all you have?

"...five men rushed up and grabbed a $6,000 camera from the tripod.""... a KTVU news crew was robbed of a computer, camera and tripod by several men ""...In May, a man stole a camera and tripod from a KNTV crew at 20th Street and San Pablo Avenue."

Rincewind53:Gwendolyn: I've been working in Washington DC for about two years now. I've been robbed at gun point, had a murder happen in the next building over from a home visit, heard shots being fired, had colleagues robbed... It's not safe. No matter what you are there for or when you go. Staying out of the neighborhood at night isn't good enough anymore.

Working in NE? I've been in DC for over a year now and never been mugged.

You sound poor.

//Or, alternately, like a lobbyist or political staffer that doesn't have to go more than a couple blocks form the capitol.

poot_rootbeer:Let's back up and question why subby thinks it's The Media's job "to help law enforcement".

Their job? No.

Their civic duty? Yes. It's part of the reason that we give them exclusive access to nice fat bands of the EM spectrum for basically free.

100 Watt Walrus:The more interesting thing here is that someone seems to be targeting news crews and taking specialized equipment that wouldn't have much value on the black market. What's their angle, I wonder?

-----

Why do you go right to the assumption that it's a BLACK market? Racist much?

But seriously folks, $6k is not particularly specialized gear any more. It's actually on the low end for something with an SDI output and timecode for a live feed. The cameras In that general price ballpark are used for "run and gun" journalism, reality TV, weddings, concerts, indie films, legal depositions, etc. You wouldn't have any problems getting rid of it in a dark parking lot for a grand or two.

/ hilarious = shooting a legal deposition for a stolen camera case with a stolen camera